Carriage



W. A. SPEAR June 4, 1946.

CARRIAGE Filed Jan a, 1945 2 Sheefs-Sheec 1 June 4, 1946.!

W. A. SPEAR CARRIAGE Filed Jan. 8, 1945, :2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 4, 1946 2,401,387 CARRIAGE Walter A. Spear, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Victor Electric Products,

a corporation of Ohio Application January 8, 1943,, Serial No. 471,785.

This invention relates to a torpedo carriage and more particularly to a torpedo carriage of the universal type.

In the past, it has been common practice to transport torpedoes prior to use on carriages.

The carriages, so to speak, have been made-to order for the particular torpedo. Various torpedoes vary in length. a This has necessitated the manufacture of several types of carriages, some for the long torpedoes and others for the shorter torpedoes.

An object of this invention is to provide a torpedo carriage that is adjustable, easily adjusted, dependable, sturdy and adapted for use with various sizes and dimensions of torpedoes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a torpedo carriage that includes a supportfor the end of the carriage, which support functions as a guard and as a bumperfor the carriage when in use and as a base for the carriage when it is set on end.

Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable chassis for the torpedo carriage wherein the adjustment is made near the end of the frame, so as to prevent extensive weakening of the frame.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the torpedo carriage.

- Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the body with one wheel removed by taking a cross sectional view substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view looking. in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view to show details of the adjustable portion of the chassis.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of one of the side frame members taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2.

In the drawings, the reference character l0 indicates a pair of main supporting wheels for the carriage, which wheels are journalled upon an axle l2 welded to blocks l4 which, in turn, are welded to the under side of longitudinal channel-shaped frame members It. These frame members l6 are mounted with the web on the inside and the flanges directed outwardly. The flanges are substantially horizontally disposed when the carriage rests on; a horizontal support.

' shape, withthe Inc., CincinhatiyQhio,

5 Claims. (Cl. 280) Heavy plate-like members I8 are welded to the ends of the channels between the flanges of the frame members l-6-, there being one plate-like member for each end of each frame member. These plate-like members are welded near the cuterv margins of the flanges 20 of the channelshaped frame members 16, so as to leave a substantially rectangular opening between the platel ike member I8 and the web or bottom of the frame members Hi. The plate-like members 18 have welded thereto suitable nut-like members 22, that have threaded apertures, which apertures ,extendthrough the plate-like member I8.

Extension members or bars 30 project into the openings foundbetween the plate-like member 3 and the web or bottom of the frame members l6. Members 30 may be substantially rectangular in corners 32 rounded or cut away. These cut-away portions 32 allow for the curvature of the flanges of the frame members. Suitable set screws 34 threadedly engage the nuts 22 andfare provided with cylindrical extensions 36 seated in suitable recesses 38 in members 3%. The set screws 34 are used in clamping and locking members 30 in positive relation with respect to the end of the channel-shaped frame members i6. There is one member 30 for each corner of the carriage. v H I p I An inverted channel member or bar All is located in each end of the carriage and is welded to the under side of the outwardly projecting ends of members 30. The channel member 40 functions as asupport in holding the ends of members 30- infixed spaced relation and at the same time provides a support for the caster which will'now be described.

The caster assembly includes a bracket 44 positioned. in. nestedrelation with respect to the channel member 40. The bracket 44 includes a downwardly extendinginternally threaded boss 46- receiving a threaded spindle 48 having an adjustable hand wheel 50. The wheel 50 rests upon a forked member 52 having journalled therein a caster wheel 54. The height of the end of the carriage may be adjusted by rotating the wheel 50, which either screws in or unscrews the spindle 48 on the boss 46. The caster assembly. perseis old and conventional as far as tor- Pedo carriages are concerned. The adjustablemembers or bars 30- are held in spaced relation near the top by a spacing bar or transverse; member .601 having. its ends welded to the upper portionsiof. the ends of members 30.

When the torpedo carriages are stored, they may be placed: on end. Previously it has been nome? posed portions 66, forming supports for the portion 64. When the carriage is not in use, the portion 64 functions as a base for the carriage ori-f ented upon end and the portions 66 function as legs or supports for the riage is used in transporting torpedoes or wheeled when empty, the portion 64 functions as a 4 panded. Torpedoes may have various diameters. Irrespective of the diameter, the torpedo snugly fits in position on the inclined surfaces of the supporting brackets. This eliminates the necessity of providing individual torpedo carriages for the various sizes of torpedoes, in that the same carriage may be used irrespective oi size. I Although the preferred embodiment; or the device has been described, it will be understood that .within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combinav, tion thereof andmode of operation, which gencarriage. 'Wh'enthe car bumper, which absorbs shock and also protects the rim of the hand wheel, 50.

The extensible portion of the carriage, includ- I ing the extension members 30 and channel me bers'40, is provided with a torpedo support 10 consisting of a bar having a pair of diagonally disposed sides '12, lined with leather or other suitable protective material. The diagonally disposed portions 12 merge into a fiat area 14 resting upon an inverted U-shaped bracket IG-forming a sup-'- port therefor. The extremitiesof the legs of the U-shaped brackets '16 are provided 'with horizontally disposed portions 18 resting on top of the web of the channel member 40. -By providing diagonally disposed portions 12, torpedoes of various diameters may be mounted on the same bracket, the pointrof tangency depending entirely upon the size of the torpedo. 1

A pair of blocks 80 are welded upon the tops of the channel-shaped frame members It. These blocks form supports for hangers 82 which are used for supporting the main body portion of the torpedo. The hangers 82 are fixedly spaced with respect to eachother; The supporting members 10 are adjusted with the extensible ends of the carriage, as may clearlybe seen in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2.

The extension members 30, in'addition to the two holes receiving-the screws 34, as shownin Figures 1 and 2, include a pair'of holes 90 near the center of the carriage, as disclosed in Figure 2. These holes 90 form, seats for the' locking screws 34 when the extensible'carriage has been moved into extended position. In order to prevent the extensible ends of the carriage from being pulled too far, stop pins 92 are fixedly secured to the center ends of members 30. When the extensible portions are moved into extended position, the stops 92 abut the plate I8, so as to arrest the outward movement'of the extension. When the stop pins 92 are in engagement with the plate I8, the screws 34 register with the cavities 90. When the extensible portion is withdrawn into shortened position, the channel member 40 abuts the ends of frame members It, at which time the screws 34 register with the proper cavities orholes in member 30. This arrangement expedites the adjustment of the carriage from one length to another; Furthermore, when the carriage has been adjusted toproper length and the screws 34 tightened, member 30 is wedged into position and the screws 34 locked intothis position by suitable lock nuts 96-. e

The extensible carriagethathas been described herein is adapted forusewithva-rious types of torpedoes. If a short torpedo is to be transported on the carriage, the extensible ends are con tracted and locked. in this position. If the torpedo is long, the extensible ends may be ex- "er'allyjstated consist in a device capable of carrying but the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in theappended claims.

- Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A torpedo carriage mounted upon a pair of main wheels, said carriage including a chassis having a pair of parallel channel members supported on said wheels, means at each end of the channel members cooperating with the flanges and the bottom of the channels to form openings, and adjustably mounted extension means having portions extending into said openings, said extension means including a caster wheel adjustably mounted forsupporting-the end of the car-- riage and a support for the-end of the torpedo,v

said support being mounted upon the extension means above the caster wheel.

2. A torpedo carriage mounted upon-apair of main wheels, said carriage including a chassis, a pair of extension-frames, said extension-frames being telescopically disposed with respect to-the chassis, there-being one'extension frame on each end of the chassis,rneans onthe chassis for supporting the body of-a-torpedo, means on the extension frames' for supporting the ends of the torpedo, said extensionframesb'eing adjustably mounted with respect tothe chassis; and means for locking the extension frames in-adjusted osition up f' 1- 1 3. A torpedo carriage mounted upon a pair of main -wheels,-said-carriage including-a pair of channel members, eachof the channel members having a pair of plates welded thereto, said plates cooperating with the channel-members to form sockets, a pair'of extension frames, one for each end 'ofthe carriage, saidextension frames including a pair of. parallel members 'adjustably projecting into the sockets, means for supporting said parallel members in spaced relation, a casterlike wheel, a support for the caster-like wheel connected v to said last mentioned supporting means so as to support the ends of the'carriage on said caster-like wheel, the len'gthpof the carriage being adjustable by adjusting said parallel members to thereby change the length-to accommodate various sizes of torpedoes.

I 4. A torpedo carriage including a chassis having a pair of parallel channel-members, a pair of wheels mounted under the center of the chassis, means at each end of the channel members cooperating with the walls and the bottom of the channels to form openin'gs, extension members extending through the-ope'ning'a'a pair of means for interconnecting the-extension -members'-'in pairs, each of said pair of means including a'supporting member welded'to'the extension members, and means including aplurality of set screws for securing theextension'memb'ers in adj usted'posi-- tion, the adjustment of said members changing the lengthof the carria'gm i 5. Atorpedooarriage including a chassishaying a. pair of-parallel channel rnei'nbers, apair means including telescopically disposed extension 5 members extending through the openings, a pair of means for interconnecting the extension members in pairs, each of said pair of means including a supporting member welded to the extension members, means including a plurality of set 10 screws for securing the extension members in adjusted position, the adjustment of said members changing the length of the carriage, a pair of caster wheel assemblies one for each of the extension means, said caster wheel assemblies being 15 mounted under the extension means, each of said caster wheel assemblies including an annular bumper-like horizontally disposed wheel mounted concentric with the Vertical axis of rotation of the caster wheel, a pair of bumper-like supports one for each of the extension means, each of said bumper-like supports including a portion extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the carriage, and a pair of diagonally disposed supporting portions attached to the extension means, said bumper-like supports extending beyond the rim of the bumper-like wheels so as to provide a support for the carriage when it is oriented upon end.

WALTER A. SPEAR. 

